There are many "religions" that believe that a baby is born sinful. According to these false teachers, Adam's sin is passed on to all of mankind, so babies are born sinful, and we need to baptize them to save them from Adam's sin. I've heard that since a man is responsible to his wife, Adam's sin is passed down through men, and that's why Jesus was born of a virgin, so he couldn't get the man Adam's sin. But is this what the Bible teaches?
It's Adam's sin, not ours
First and foremost, we must establish that Adam's sin was Adam's, not mine, not yours, not Harrison Ford's. No, Adam touched and ate of the fruit, so it's Adam's sin. Sin is not hereditary. My sin is not my children's, and their sin is not their children's. If we did inherit all the sins of our ancestors, we'd be pretty sinful today, now wouldn't we? And what kind of loving, merciful God allows us to be damned forever in Hell because of sins that aren't ours? Adam's sin is Adam's, and no one else's.
Supposed proof for original sin
A sinner from birth. Some reply, "Hey, what about Psalm 51:5? It says we were born with sin." Those who say this are probably reading from the New International Version. This is a great version that is mostly accurate, but this verse seems a bit turned around in the NIV. Let's read:
Surely I have been a sinner from birth,That sounds like it supports total depravity. The New King James Version says,
Sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,Now that appears to put all the sin on the mother of the writer, David. But no matter whose the sin is in this verse, we must keep in mind this is a poem. These are the thoughts and feelings of David. He had just sinned with Bathsheba at the time this was written, so he feels his whole life was full of sin because of his recent transgression.
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Lusts of the flesh. Some bring up Ephesians 2:3. It says,
among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.Why does it mention the "lusts of the flesh"? Because sin is fun. That's why it's a temptation, is because we enjoy doing it—at least for a time. Our flesh wants to fulfill its lusts. That's all that's saying.
Through one man sin entered the world. Some mention Romans 5:12. It says,
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—Sin has spread to all people starting with Adam because he is the one who brought it into the world. Some point to the "through one many sin entered the world" part and say that proves the doctrine of total depravity, but we need to read on. It says that death spread to all men, "because all sinned."
Our own sins condemn us
The soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:20 says,
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.Sin belongs to the person who committed it, according to this verse. Now, let's review: Adam's sin is Adam's. It says, "The soul who sins shall die"—it mentions nothing about how "the soul who is the son of the soul who sinned shall die." That would be cruel.
Become as little children. Matthew 18:3 is another good argument against original sin.
and [Jesus] said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."So, according to the people who believe in original sin, one must become sinful (as little children) to enter heaven? How does that work? That's not what Jesus is saying. Jesus is pointing our the innocense and humility of children. We need to be like that to enter Heaven. See also Matthew 19:13–15.
God made man upright. Ecclesiastes 7:29 says,
Truly, this only I have found:We were each made righteous, but we've strayed away on our own. The sin that burdens us is ours, not Adam's.
That God made man upright,
But they have sought out many schemes.
Innocent blood. Psalm 106:37–38 reads,
They even sacrificed their sonsThe "sons and daughters" mentioned are said to have innocent blood. If they had inherited Adam's sin, they wouldn't be innocent.
And their daughters to demons,
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and daughters,
Whome they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with blood.
Perfect in your ways. Ezekiel 28:15 says,
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,We were made perfect, but we brought sin into our lives.
Till iniquity was found in you.
Put to death for his own sin. Second Kings 14:6 says,
But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the Lord commanded, says, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
Whoever has sinned against Me. Exodus 32:33 says,
And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book."It doesn't say the son of whoever has sinned against Him will be blotted out, but the person who sins will be blotted out.
Throughout the Bible, we are told to repent of our sins—not Adam's sin. Nowhere does the Bible tell us that we've inherited a family tree's worth of ancestral sins. It's our own sins that condemn us. The doctrine of total depravity is false. God bless.
